Never Flinch Audiobook By Stephen King cover art

Never Flinch

A Novel

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Never Flinch

By: Stephen King
Narrated by: Jessie Mueller, Stephen King
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About this listen

Named a Most Anticipated Book of 2025 by The New York Times Book Review, AV Club, Variety, The Boston Globe, The Minneapolis Star Tribune, Vulture, Men’s Health, Book Riot, The New York Post, Goodreads, AARP, Paste, and more!

From master storyteller Stephen King comes an extraordinary new novel with intertwining storylines—one about a killer on a diabolical revenge mission, and another about a vigilante targeting a feminist celebrity speaker—featuring the beloved Holly Gibney and a dynamic new cast of characters.


When the Buckeye City Police Department receives a disturbing letter from a person threatening to “kill thirteen innocents and one guilty” in “an act of atonement for the needless death of an innocent man,” Detective Izzy Jaynes has no idea what to think. Are fourteen citizens about to be slaughtered in an unhinged act of retribution? As the investigation unfolds, Izzy realizes that the letter writer is deadly serious, and she turns to her friend Holly Gibney for help.

Meanwhile, controversial and outspoken women’s rights activist Kate McKay is embarking on a multi-state lecture tour, drawing packed venues of both fans and detractors. Someone who vehemently opposes Kate’s message of female empowerment is targeting her and disrupting her events. At first, no one is hurt, but the stalker is growing bolder, and Holly is hired to be Kate’s bodyguard—a challenging task with a headstrong employer and a determined adversary driven by wrath and his belief in his own righteousness.

Featuring a riveting cast of characters both old and new, including world-famous gospel singer Sista Bessie and an unforgettable villain addicted to murder, these twinned narratives converge in a chilling and spectacular conclusion—a feat of storytelling only Stephen King could pull off.

Thrilling, wildly fun, and outrageously engrossing, Never Flinch is one of King’s richest and most propulsive novels.

©2025 Stephen King (P)2025 Simon & Schuster Audio
Editors Select Horror Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense World Literature Celebrity Revenge Exciting Funny

Editorial Review

Holly Gibney is back!
Stephen King’s Never Flinch will leave you itching for more! Following two threats that eventually collide, Never Flinch brings back the awkward but lovable Investigator Holly Gibney and serves up some fun new ones like Kate McKay and Detective Izzy. Being that Holly is one of my personal favorite side characters turned main, her relatability factor went way up as this story adds more to her personality. King also takes listeners inside the mind of the killer, revealing the ticks and disturbing pleasures of a vicious, self-righteous murderer. While it is a bit of a chilling listen, it’s hard to not get immediately swept away in the amazing cast of personalities and terrifying detail. Nicole R., Audible Editor

Compelling Character Development • Interwoven Storylines • Exceptional Voice Acting • Beloved Protagonist
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So, it’s hard to follow as there’s not much of a distinction between the voices and characters. PLEEEASE bring back WILL PATTON!!!

THE VOICES

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You can save your time and have more enjoyment by going back and reading Finders Keepers, Mr. Mercedes, Etc.
Mr King, In the epilog , says that he was suffering from a hip operation when he wrote this . I was suffering when I read it.
The character development (other than Holly) is very thin, like the book was rushed.
The villain is just as thin soup compared to other King villains.
The woman who reads the book only has one voice and it is hard to tell when she is doing a male character.
Other books with a female protagonist have been read by women with more talent (sorry) .
In the past when King touches on difficult political topics he gives a grudging nod to the other side , This is so one sided it tipped over.
Overall the book is a swing and a miss, but I am a fan boy and will buy the next one. No one bats 1,000.


Save your time

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Stephen King has lost his edge. This story was similar to one of the Mr. Mercedes stories. The showdown was too similar. He tried to make his characters interesting, but they weren’t. The story line was convoluted. King is usually good at juggling the story, but he dropped the pins on this one. I’m still looking for the next Shining. The closest he’s come is with Dr. Sleep. This was one his worst novels I’ve read. He should stick to writing instead of preaching. I should get a refund because there’s two sides to issues and both sides of abortion have their opinions. I always ask people, what if you had been aborted?

Predictable and boring

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too many story lines. a bit confusing at times. not like a king book. feels like he had 3 stories in mind and just decided to bunch them all together

didn't read like a stephen king book

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Enjoyable story. Always thankful for a Gibney story. Not the best in the series but always worth a listen.

Great narration

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Ok, this was not really a scary story. This was a very, liberal political story about abortion with some murder thrown in.

Political story

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So sad to find that my pre-ordered, very much anticipated King title was produced without the unique talent for voice acting of Mr. Will Patton.
Never got past the feeling of listening to a narration of a shopping list, where I - unfortunately for the whole listening experience - kept 'zooming out' and losing the capture and grip of the narrative, distracted by annoyance.
Even though the narrator's technique and empathy for the story's characters did pick up towards the very end, my overall impression with this Holly Gibney book was unfortunately torn and spoiled.

I can imagine that there may be several reasons to why a book series gets discontinued of it's former choice of narrator, however the choice of voice acting on this title just wasn't for me.

I would love for this title to be a redo. Please give Mr. Patton a call. I'll be happy to wait.

Please come back, Mr. Patton

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I liked the narrator especially since she can sing. I enjoyed this book more than Holly and End of Watch. I would put it right up there with The Outsider and Finders Keepers. I have seen some negative comments about one of the characters but I didn't have a problem with any of them. Definitely recommend.

Good narrator and non-stop listen.

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I think he really pushed his plot points and characters in this book. The action is really fleshed out and believable. I couldn’t stop listening once I started. Maybe my favorite book with Holly as the main detective.

The voice performer(s) did an excellent job and I’d be happy to hear more from them in the future.

Waiting for this one was bittersweet, as Holly and YLID were both good but not great imo. But boy, did it turn out to be worth the wait and all the expectations.

I can’t wait for more of this “Agatha Christie BS.”

Holly At Her Best!

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I wouldn’t want to do life without King’s literary fixes!! What a treat to spend time with Holly again!! I hope to be with her again and again. And, again, her quirky ways save the day!! Also, Jerome and Barbara!!! A terrific story!!!

Another King Masterpiece! S. Harmon 6-02-2025

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